A Pragmatic Solution

To reduce the issue to race is to misunderstand the underlying dynamic of the situation. It is the disparaging economies that are driving the migration, and economic fear that is causing the backlash.

The factors that cause American economic fear include, cheap labor, an overtaxed health care system (diverting funds from American elderly, sick, etc.), overtaxed education system - faculty, budgets and classrooms and overtaxed taxpayers.

On education, the obvious problem is the increase in student/teacher ratio. Is this shortchanging legal immigrants and American-born citizens? In the funding of education, the primary tax which is earmarked is property taxes. Does the lack of documentation impede mortgage approval? Although I attribute the lack of education to the shortcomings of their country of origin, it is distressing that as a group Latino immigrants lag behind other countries of new Americans with a 2000 report showing only 1.3% in post graduate study. If we are to compete globally as a country, we must do better than this.

I find it hard to believe that illegal workers confine themselves to cleaning up after Americans and picking fruit. I'm sure of only one job that Americans don't want. But how many hunting guides can Dick Cheney possibly need? A 2000 study show that 23% of illegal immigrants are employed in labor/construction which have traditionally been blue collar entry level jobs.

I keep hearing that illegal immigrants are good for the economy because their income supports the food, housing and entertainment industries. But how much of their disposable income leaves the country to aid family back home? If they were able to plant roots, wouldn't this change?

It is absurd to think we could round up 11 million illegal immigrants and send them home.

Likewise, it would be unjust to offer blanket amnesty.

ONE PRAGMATIC SOLUTION :

Because these illegal immigrants broke the law, and continue to do so by being here, they should be fined, and at the same time, offered probationary citizenship over a six year period.

This would not let them “cut in line” in front of the legal applicants. Moreover, it would give them a chance to prove their citizenship and fund both education shortfalls and increase border security. Of the 11 million illegals, say half enter this program by a drop dead deadline, and are issued a prefixed social security number (MX 107-39-1234).

A fine of $15 per month (remember they are poor) would be taken out of their paychecks per month by their employers (you hire 'em, you do the paperwork and collect the fees).

So, let's say we have 5 million times $15.00; that would be $75 million a month times 12 months which would be close to a billion a year over a six year period that could generate 6 billion for the program. Administration costs and government waste would cut that in half but it would be a start toward controlling the border, improving education, providing accountability and defining status of this often abused subclass. Let them be part of the solution to porous border.